flashback

1 of 2

noun

flash·​back ˈflash-ˌbak 

1

: a recession of flame to an unwanted position (as into a blowpipe)

2

a

: interruption of chronological sequence (as in a film or literary work) by interjection of events of earlier occurrence

also : an instance of flashback

b

: a past incident recurring vividly in the mind

flash back

2 of 2

verb

flashed back; flashing back; flashes back

intransitive verb

1

: to focus one's mind on or vividly remember a past time or incident

—usually used with to

flashed back to my childhood

2

: to employ a flashback (as in a film)

—usually used with to

Synonyms

Verb

• hark back (to)
• harken back (to)
• hearken back (to)
• mind [chiefly dialect]
• recall
• recollect
• remember
• reminisce (about)
• reproduce
• think (of)

Examples of flashback in a Sentence

Noun

The character's childhood was described in a series of flashbacks.

He's having flashbacks of his days in the war.

Verb

the scent made me flash back to the days of my mother's home-cooked Sunday dinners

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Though the nonlinear story is busy with flashbacks and stuffed with themes, characters and real-world analogues (some of which are not fully fleshed out), the worldview that emerges is distinctly Bong: absurdist and yet cautiously hopeful about the future. —Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025

Watching a teenage version of Pistorius (portrayed by Jett Harris in the flashbacks) sitting slumped over like a vegetable as life goes on around him is far from pleasant, nor does Ascher want to make it so. —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025

Verb

As with previous outings, death is foreshadowed before flashing back one week earlier to the guests’ arrival at the elite five-star White Lotus resort. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025

Like the two previous seasons, this year's story begins with a mysterious death and then flashes back a week. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1944, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flashback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

flashback

noun

flash·​back ˈflash-ˌbak 

1

: the introduction of a past event into a story or motion picture

also : this past event

2

: a past incident recurring clearly in the mind